The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has indicated that its acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, could return to the country by the end of this month. However, questions remain over how he might travel, given that he does not possess a valid Bangladeshi passport and has not yet applied for a renewal.
Sources close to the matter say that the absence of a passport poses no significant barrier.
An alternative exists in the form of a one-way travel pass, a temporary document that allows Bangladeshi citizens abroad to return home without a passport.
What is a travel pass and who qualifies?
A travel pass is a temporary travel document issued for a single journey back to Bangladesh. It is not a passport and cannot be used for travel to any other country.
It is typically granted in cases where a passport has been lost abroad, has long expired with no feasible renewal option, or was never issued (for example, to children born overseas). It may also be provided to Bangladeshi workers in irregular status abroad or citizens who are detained.
Requirements for obtaining a travel pass
Applicants must provide proof of Bangladeshi citizenship, such as a birth registration certificate, national identity card, an old passport (if available), an affidavit from a relative, educational certificates, or police documents if detained overseas.
According to sources in the Immigration and Passports Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Tarique Rahman could return without difficulty using a travel pass issued by the Bangladesh High Commission in London.
Background to Tarique's passport issues
Tarique Rahman left for the UK in 2008 on a valid Bangladeshi passport, but it was not renewed during the subsequent Awami League government. The BNP has never publicly explained his exact immigration status in Britain.
In 2018, the then Awami League State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shahriar Alam, claimed that Tarique Rahman, his wife, and daughter had surrendered their Bangladeshi passports to UK authorities, which were then forwarded to the Bangladesh High Commission. The BNP disputed this and demanded the passports be produced, though none were shown.
Tarique has travelled abroad on occasion, including to Saudi Arabia for Umrah and Hajj in 2014 and 2016, reportedly using UK-issued travel documents.
Precedent: Salahuddin Ahmed’s return
BNP standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed returned to Bangladesh using similar travel documents after being found without a passport in India in 2015. Following his acquittal in an infiltration case, he obtained a travel pass via the Bangladesh High Commission and returned when political conditions allowed.
Government stance on assistance
Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain recently stated that the government would provide any necessary help with travel documents if Tarique Rahman wished to return, emphasising that the decision rests with him.
A senior Home Ministry official, speaking anonymously, told Jago News: "There is no obstacle to Tarique Rahman coming home. Even without a passport, he can arrive easily on a travel pass and apply for one after reaching Bangladesh."
The official added that such travel passes align with international norms, obliging countries to facilitate the repatriation of their citizens.
Tarique Rahman's wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman, returned to Bangladesh last May after 17 years abroad, staying for a month before going back to London. She has since registered as a voter.
With BNP leaders and supporters eagerly awaiting his arrival, attention now turns to whether – and precisely when – Tarique Rahman will make the journey home.